Too Many Hotels!!!

[livndisney]

My wife and I stayed at the Fairfield Inn during the last week of July. The FI meets all your criteria except for breakfast. We have a four-year-old daughter and we enjoyed our stay and would probably stay again. However, a few caveats to keep in mind:
1.) Parking was an additional $11/day. Not a huge expense, but you need to budget for that.
2.) There does not seem to be enough parking for all the guest staying at the hotel. I could be wrong, but it seemed like there were always cars circling late at night looking for a parking. However, you could valet park for no additional cost other than the $11/day charge.
3.)This hotel is NOT a Marriott hotel, but the staff is awesome and the rooms are extremely clean and well-maintained.
If you go about a half mile out from DL hotel choices can be less for a nicer hotel.

On the positive side:
1.) For such a busy hotel it is very quiet at night.
2.) You can see the fireworks from the "theme park view" rooms. There's an extra cost for a theme park view room, but if it's your first time at DL spend the extra money.
3.) Great staff! Very helpful and courteous!
4.) Third floor has a small deli/market and Pizza Hut Express. Good enough for coffee in the morning and a snack.
5.) Target is right around the corner on Katella. We bought lots of food and supplies there during our stay.
6.) If your willing to drive a little, you can get food off-site for much cheaper (In-N-Out, Round Table Pizza, Togo's, many other locally owned eateries as well). Hit Yelp for a little guidance.
7.) For a couple with a four-year-old, being right across the street was a lifesaver. We were able to split the day in two and be in our room after park closing in about 5 minutes.
8.) Free wifi, in-room fridge, microwave, pool, easy to get to your room, air conditioned, flat screen tv's, non-smoking, sofa sleeper, and nice views from the upper floors.

I hope this help a little. Have fun!

You said this hotel is not a Marriott-but the picture on the website shows the Marriott sign and mentions Marriott rewards- has it changed recently?

 

[Dogslyf]

I'll clarify my statement. This is a brand that was acquired by Marriott. So, if you have ever stayed at a Marriott, The Fairfield brand is not up to the level of amenities a "Marriott" hotel provides. You still get Marriott-level service, but it just not as nice as a Marriott. I would recommend it to anyone, but remember it is a brand owned by Marriott and not your traditional Marriott hotel. You do still get Marriott rewards, especially if you use a Marriott Rewards Visa.
Hope this clears it up.

 

[livndisney]

I'll clarify my statement. This is a brand that was acquired by Marriott. So, if you have ever stayed at a Marriott, The Fairfield brand is not up to the level of amenities a "Marriott" hotel provides. You still get Marriott-level service, but it just not as nice as a Marriott. I would recommend it to anyone, but remember it is a brand owned by Marriott and not your traditional Marriott hotel. You do still get Marriott rewards, especially if you use a Marriott Rewards Visa.
Hope this clears it up.

Got it! My head is still swimming over all the different hotels LOL

 

[clori]

Desert Palms is a non smoking hotel. It is a hotel with indoor corridors. It is a 10 minute walk without having to cross any big streets. It is next door to 7/11. If you don't want to walk you can take the art right in front of 7/11 or walk across Harbor and take any of the art busses that stop and DLR is the next stop about two minutes away (need to take the correct bus back).

There are various room layouts but I think they all have a microwave and fridge. There is a heated pool and hottub. They are not big but the kids (9 and 13) enjoyed the pool while I hung out more in the hit tub. Fresh towels were brought in often.

Breakfast was decent and replenished regularly. We never had trouble getting a table. We were two rooms from the elevator but never heard noise from the hall or the street. The free wifi worked fine. There is a kids registration section and the kids get small gift. The room was clean. My room did not have a fireworks view but some do.

 

[farmfresh]

On a non DLH trip we ended up choosing the Desert Palms. Can't say we were very excited about it. Perfectly clean and tidy, but basic rooms and when we were there the breakfast room was absolutely overwhelmed with visitors. Pool is small and enclosed.

From the comments of others, the Fairfield sounds like a better bet in comparison.

 

[KCmike]

Fairfield Inn is your best bet on Harbor Blvd. We have stayed at FFI, Hojo, and Best Western Park Place Inn along with the top two Disneyland Hotels (DLH and GCH). If we're staying off property is gotta be Fairfield Inn. Quality of the room, location, and price are all winners for us there. You will like this place.

 

[ronandannette]

From what I've looked at (we are doing the same round and round thing you are!) I would vote for a kid suite (get the fifth/top floor) at the Portofino. No breakfast but walkable and the extra space is nice.

I think

We stayed at Portofino in a Kid's suite on the 5th floor in May; while there wasn't anything really wrong with it, there was also absolutely no reason to be impressed. I'd urge you to look at your other choices instead (although admittedly we've never stayed in any of them). From the tone of your post I just really get a sense you're hoping for something nicer than Portofino (and while they are technically accurate), pictures on the web make this place look 10X better than it actually is.

 

[Syndrome]

We have found that if you look just a bit further away (still may be walkable), and away from the "across the street hotels" , that much nicer 4 star resort hotels can be found for not much more $$$. They have nice suite type of rooms as well.

After debating over this for a while, we have decided that if we stay off-site (which is likely), we are not going to cram into a normal hotel room. So we have been looking at the suite type of accomodations. Ideally, we would like to have 1 bdrm with a King, 2nd bdrm with twins, or queens and a seperate living room area with full kitchen. Also 2 bathrooms. There are plenty of very nice resort hotels that have accomodations like these, so we just have to pick one! Problem is that it seems that the nicer 3-4 star hotels are further away from DL, and walking would be tougher. Residence Inn Maingate looks nice, is close and has large suite rooms on a 2 level set-up. Just cant tell if its in a "shady" area ??? Also the Other Residence inn "high rise" looks very nice as well. Lots of choices that fit our needs.......Homewood suites looks nice but is far out, and a few others too.

Hmmm.......just have to make a list and pick one !



Syndrome

 

[Minuet888]

surprised no one is recommending Tropicana right across the street from the park and is pretty cheap while still being clean. Has bagels and coffee in the morning has a fridge and microwave and pool, you can see the fireworks

Candy Cane Inn is always my favorite but it is more expensive and farther away from Tropicana

 

[Barry Browning]

Another Tropicana Ann go for the Executive Suites they face the park.Amazingly nice room here the balconies face the park and monorail.You might mix a regular room and a suite these are great they have living area, jacuzzi tub micro wave, fridge, great view of park on the balconies.You can sit out on them and have coffee or pizza or whatever..